COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 pandemic is a global pandemic.

In Anishinabek News

• March 2020: Rising concerns about the virus led to the cancellation of theatrical performances in Thunder Bay in mid-March 2020. The situation forced Magnus Theatre to suspend its season to protect staff and patrons.
• March 2020: The pandemic prompted multiple First Nations in Ontario to declare states of emergency in March 2020. Communities adapted by creating socially-distanced food distribution systems and closing non-essential businesses.
• March 2020: The pandemic prompted the Canadian Museum for Human Rights to temporarily close its physical location and expand its digital offerings. The crisis led to the creation of new online features focused on human rights issues like safety and freedom of assembly.
• April 2020: The pandemic caused the cancellation of the 2020 Little Native Hockey League tournament just days before it was set to start. As of April 2020, public health advice regarding the virus was monitored by tournament officials leading up to the decision to cancel the event.
• April 2020: During the COVID-19 pandemic, eSupply Canada Ltd. offered supplies at cost to support Indigenous workers and governments. Glenn Wheeler stated that the COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented experience for Indigenous communities and the world.
• April 2020: The pandemic resulted in widespread isolation, prompting leaders like Scott McLeod to find new ways to connect with their communities online. Public health measures during this time included staying at home and frequent hand washing to prevent the spread of the virus.
• April 2020: The pandemic led to the creation of the COVID-19 Economic Response Plan to support struggling businesses. Many Indigenous businesses faced unique challenges during this time due to remote locations and limited access to capital. The crisis prompted a $306.8 million federal funding package for small and medium-sized Indigenous enterprises.
• April 2020: The pandemic prompted the Nokiiwin Tribal Council to release digital cultural lessons for students staying at home. Educational materials were adapted for parents to use because students could no longer attend school in person.
• May 2020: The pandemic forced the cancellation of a community gathering and postponed a language gathering at Aamjiwnaang First Nation. Educational materials were provided for home use to support students during the pandemic.
• May 2020: The pandemic necessitated a shift toward virtual health visits and online mental health counselling for First Nation communities. In response to the crisis, Dilico Anishinabek Family Care implemented mobile testing and distributed 2,000 test kits to communities. The health emergency led to the temporary suspension of new intakes for residential mental health programs.
• May 2020: The health crisis led to the closure of retail stores in Fort William First Nation in early April 2020. Safety measures such as social distancing, limited store capacity, and enhanced cleaning were required for businesses to resume operations. By mid-May 2020, the majority of cases identified within the Thunder Bay District Health Unit region had been resolved.
• May 2020: The pandemic caused restrictions that delayed the start of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League season in 2020.
• May 2020: Federal officials monitored outbreaks and worked to prevent the virus from entering First Nation communities in 2020. Health measures such as social distancing, hand washing, and wearing masks were promoted to limit the spread of the disease. The pandemic necessitated new federal supports for small businesses through organizations like FedNor.
• May 2020: The pandemic prompted the Union of Ontario Indians to implement a work-from-home policy for all staff until at least September 2020. The crisis led to the cancellation of all work-related meetings, travel, and public gatherings for the organization's employees.
• June 2020: The pandemic necessitated a transition to remote work for Union of Ontario Indians employees in 2020. Health experts used the crisis as a catalyst to discuss Indigenous leadership, emotional validation, and the importance of routine.
• June 2020: The pandemic resulted in border closures that prevented Crystal Shawanda from returning to her home in Nashville. The crisis forced musicians to find creative ways to promote new recordings without professional production crews.
• July 2020: Public health protocols during this period required Thunder Bay to move its summer solstice celebrations to online platforms. The pandemic protocols made traditional physical community gatherings difficult for Indigenous residents.
• July 2020: The pandemic caused many social services to temporarily close their physical offices and move to technology-based support. Lockdown rules during the crisis resulted in the closure of public internet access points like libraries, further isolating marginalized people.
• July 2020: A collective launched a sustained call for healing in response to this international pandemic. The Global Prayers for World Healing initiative was created to help people uplift one another during this time.
• August 2020: The pandemic forced Major League Lacrosse to hold its entire 2020 season and playoffs within a nine-day window. Health protocols during the event included regular temperature checks and testing for all participants in Annapolis.
• August 2020: The crisis led the Dew Drop Inn to switch from indoor hot meals to a takeout model to avoid lineups. The pandemic caused a record demand for food services at the Dew Drop Inn, which served over 9,000 meals monthly for four consecutive months leading up to August 2020.
• September 2020: The pandemic led to the use of virtual board meetings for Lakehead Public Schools to plan the start of the school year. Scottie Wemigwans noted that the situation added a level of intimidation for children starting school.
• September 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic led to job losses and increased food insecurity for the urban Indigenous community in North Bay. Safety measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic limited building entry at the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre to one person at a time.
• September 2020: The pandemic required the Biidaaban Community Service-Learning program to be delivered in a remote manner. Despite the challenges of the outbreak, students successfully completed courses on land-based learning and Indigenous issues.
• October 2020: The pandemic prompted Cole Forrest to move from Toronto back to Nipissing First Nation after being confined to an apartment for three months. The film Nbisiing was created as part of a series documenting the personal impacts of the virus on various individuals.
• October 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a 14-day quarantine requirement for travelers entering Canada in 2020. Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic prevented Kelly Babstock from practicing with her team in Toronto as of October 2020.
• November 2020: The pandemic prompted Dilico Anishinabek Family Care to sell masks as part of its 2020 awareness efforts. As of November 2020, the crisis resulted in increased isolation and a lack of community supports for families.
• November 2020: The pandemic caused Michael Dick to miss a qualification training opportunity during the summer of 2020.
• December 2020: The pandemic led to an increasing demand for personal protective equipment, prompting the establishment of a new production facility in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory.
• January 2021: The pandemic induced stress and fatigue, leading to feelings of helplessness and difficulty with routine for many individuals. Jane Middleton-Moz noted that First Nations were the first to respond effectively by using technology to maintain cultural connections. The crisis led to the development of compassion fatigue and chronic stress injuries among essential workers.
• February 2021: Regulations during the pandemic limited the hide-tanning class at Chippewas of the Thames First Nation to a maximum of 10 people. The tanning event took place in December 2020, shortly before a subsequent lockdown was implemented.
• March 2021: Research showed that businesses owned by Indigenous women were hit hard, with many seeing revenues drop by more than half. The high concentration of these businesses in the tourism and retail sectors made them particularly vulnerable to the economic effects of the crisis.
• April 2021: The pandemic led Isaac Murdoch to use technology for storytelling instead of gathering in person around a fire or in a lodge. Isaac Murdoch used technology during this time to ensure people remained safe, connected, and grounded in culture.
• May 2021: The pandemic compounded existing issues related to addictions and mental health in First Nation communities. Addictions workers adapted to the crisis by implementing virtual treatment services and maintaining reduced-capacity in-person care.
• June 2021: The pandemic caused many First Nations to shut down or reduce business operations to protect community health. Declines in community-generated revenue during this period led to the creation of a $332.8 million federal support fund.
• August 2021: The crisis led to the closure of Casino Rama from March 2020 until July 2021. The pandemic resulted in employment losses and reduced patronage for local businesses in Chippewas of Rama First Nation.
• October 2021: The pandemic caused the cancellation of the Little Native Hockey League in both 2020 and 2021. As of October 2021, public health measures and vaccination rates are being monitored to determine the feasibility of the 2022 tournament.
• October 2021: The crisis forced Turtle Concepts to return home from a tour and transition to virtual broadcasting. It led to the creation of specific relief programs for parents who were acting as teachers for their children at home.
• January 2022: The pandemic resulted in Joseph Pitawanakwat delivering his traditional medicine presentations approximately 50 times in a virtual format. Before this event, workshops were typically held in person at healthcare centres and communities.
• February 2022: The pandemic caused isolation and symptoms such as difficulty focusing that the Lakehead University book club sought to address. The book club provided a way for people to connect and break the monotony of the situation.
• February 2022: The pandemic caused the cancellation of the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation Traditional Pow Wow in 2020. Safety restrictions during this period required community feasts to be served as take-out meals.
• March 2022: The global shutdown caused by this event led Manidoo Bineshiihn to transition from the film industry to large-scale gardening.
• March 2022: The pandemic forced Kana Leaf to quickly adapt its operations to meet changing protocols and guidelines in cannabis sales. During the crisis, the dispensary transitioned to curbside-only transactions and established a call centre to handle orders.
• March 2022: The ongoing health crisis and the Omicron variant led to the cancellation of the 2022 Little Native Hockey League tournament. Organizers expressed hope that the pandemic would be over by March 2023.
• April 2022: The pandemic prevented in-person gatherings for two years prior to the March 2022 Traditional Pow Wow.
• April 2022: The pandemic prevented the Dilico Anishinabek Family Care Elders Committee from meeting in person until March 2022. Turtle Concepts worked with youth during the pandemic before returning to in-person sessions.
• June 2022: The pandemic resulted in a period of over two years without pow wows.
• August 2022: The pandemic caused a slowdown in community events at Michipicoten First Nation for over two years.
• August 2022: The pandemic led to the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 First Nations Economic Advancement Conference events. Economic developers met in 2022 to discuss challenges and successes emerging from the pandemic period.
• January 2023: The pandemic resulted in the cancellation of the 2020-21 hockey season, preventing players like Lincoln Moore from being scouted.
• February 2023: The pandemic forced the suspension of face-to-face meetings for the Anishinaabemowin Program for at least two years. During the pandemic, some language classes were transitioned to an online format before returning to in-person sessions in 2023.
• February 2023: The pandemic pressured Anishinabek Nation communities to create innovative solutions for food distribution and security. Many creative approaches to addressing food insecurity were implemented by First Nation communities as a result of the pandemic.
• March 2023: Trish Monague stated that this event taught that all people are spiritually related through shared experiences of loss, sickness, and fear. During the crisis, Trish Monague offered prayers for people in India, the United States, and her own children.
• March 2023: The pandemic resulted in the cancellation of the Little Native Hockey League tournament in each of the three years prior to 2023.
• August 2023: The pandemic prompted the Thunder Bay Art Gallery to begin an outdoor banner series while its indoor space was closed.
• July 2025: The pandemic delayed the formal start of the community garden project at Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. During the health crisis, the First Nation provided food and wellness boxes to its members, which increased interest in a permanent food security program.
• December 2025: This pandemic caused a three-year suspension of the Ottawa Indigenous Children and Youth Pow Wow.
• February 2026: The pandemic began shortly after Adam Crowe submitted his business plan for The Butter Tart Empire Bakery in March 2020. Despite the pandemic causing high construction costs and business closures, The Butter Tart Empire Bakery successfully opened during this period.
• September 2026: The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant struggles for M'Chigeeng First Nation after a period of community prosperity. Glen Hare identified getting the community back on track following the pandemic as a primary goal of his leadership.